Chapter 110: Creating Opportunities for You

In the evening, Lin Xi was awakened by the commotion downstairs.

When she opened her eyes, her own room came into view. She stared blankly at the window opposite for a long moment before recalling that she had come home in Qin Yu's car. She must have fallen asleep on the way, but as for how she ended up back in her room, she had no recollection at all.

After getting up and quickly changing her clothes, Lin Xi went downstairs.

In the living room, several elders were sitting together, chatting and playing chess with a vigor that outshone even her own youthful energy.

"Xi Xi, you're up?"

"Perfect timing, we're about to have dinner."

Dinner was far simpler than lunch, mainly because only a few families from the compound were present and the group was small. In truth, it was just a little family meal.

Lin Xi rolled up her sleeves, intending to help in the kitchen, but her auntie shooed her out. "No need for you in here, child. You'll only make a mess. Go on, go play outside."

With no other choice, Lin Xi returned to the living room to watch the elders play chess.

Grandpa Bai glanced at her teasingly, "Xi Xi, does your head hurt? You really got drunk last night."

"It wasn't so bad. I don't think I drank that much," Lin Xi insisted, stubborn as ever.

Grandpa Bai chuckled. "You call that not much? Your third brother had to carry you home, causing quite a stir, and you didn't wake up at all."

"…"

"Has the alcohol worn off now?"

"Mm." Lin Xi sheepishly rubbed her nose. "I don't feel anything now."

"Grandpa, where's Bai Xu? Has he come back yet?"

Hearing her ask after Bai Xu, Grandpa Bai's smile grew even warmer. He hurried to point her in the right direction. "He's outside—took a call and just stepped out, right there in the yard."

Lin Xi stood up. "I'll go find him, then."

"Yes, yes, go on," Grandpa Bai waved her off, his excitement plain to see.

Lin Xi paused, belatedly realizing what was going on. She glanced back and met Grandpa Bai's beaming, twinkling eyes, unable to suppress a sigh. "Grandpa, I just have something to ask him."

"I know, I know," Grandpa Bai replied, looking as though he knew everything there was to know.

Seeing him like this, Lin Xi couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. This wasn’t understanding at all.

"The reason I’m looking for him is because, when he came back this afternoon, he left me alone at the hotel. If Third Brother hadn’t left late, I wouldn’t have had a ride home."

In the past, Lin Xi had never been one to complain—especially not to these elders.

She’d always believed that matters between the younger generation, whether good or bad, should be solved by themselves, without troubling the elders.

But today, she had no choice. If she didn’t explain, Grandpa Bai would surely keep misunderstanding her forever. The way he was looking at her now was full of the affectionate gaze one might reserve for a future granddaughter-in-law, which was truly more than she could handle.

"What?!" At Lin Xi’s words, Grandpa Bai’s face darkened as he slammed a chess piece down on the table. "That rascal, can't he do anything right? Where is he? Xi Xi, go drag him in here for me!"

"It’s fine, really. I’ll ask him myself—maybe he had something urgent this afternoon. Don’t be angry."

Lin Xi finally escaped and, rounding a corner in the courtyard, came upon Bai Xu.

He was reclining on a lounge chair, really talking on the phone. He hadn’t noticed her; with his back to her, he was listening intently. Not wanting to eavesdrop, Lin Xi turned to wait elsewhere.

"Is it really that complicated? I only asked you to invite her out, any excuse would do, and you still can’t manage it? Tch."

"Obviously, I told you to invite Song Ning. Anyone else would think you were inviting some ancestor."

At the words, Lin Xi paused and looked back.

"Qin Yu? You’re sure? When did Third Brother invite her? That’s interesting. Send me the address. Why aren’t you going?..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a firm smack landed on the back of his head.

Bai Xu’s expression shifted instantly, a flash of annoyance in his eyes. The next second, he turned and met Lin Xi’s clear, indifferent gaze. He hesitated, then muttered a few pleasantries into the phone before hastily hanging up.

He picked up his glasses and put them on, a faint smile flickering in his eyes. "Eavesdropping, you know, is hardly polite."

Lin Xi curled her lips with little emotion. "Right back at you. You’re not exactly innocent yourself."

Bai Xu didn’t get angry at being overheard. He leaned back further, sprawled out, and nodded at the chair beside him. "Sit down, let’s talk."

Lin Xi didn’t sit.

"What are you so upset about? It’s got nothing to do with you," he said, referring to his phone conversation.

Lin Xi had only caught bits and pieces of the call—enough to guess his intentions. As he’d said, the matter didn’t concern her. Still, from the little she’d heard, it was clear his plans involved Qin Yu and Song Ning.

"It’s not about that." Lin Xi folded her arms, pulling her jacket closer. "You deliberately left me at the hotel this afternoon, didn’t you?"

"How could I?" He raised his brows, feigning innocence. "I even waited for you at the hotel entrance. I called you, but you didn’t answer. I was worried you’d been kidnapped by traffickers."

"If the security guard hadn’t told me you got into a Rolls-Royce, I nearly called the police."

"You gave me quite a scare. And you, you didn’t even bother to explain when you got here, let alone comfort me. Instead, you come looking for trouble?"

He was always so quick to shift blame.

Bai Xu spoke with complete composure, as if it were all true. Ten years ago, Lin Xi might have believed half of his nonsense.

But now? Ha.

She didn’t bother with courtesy, swinging her foot to land a solid kick on his shin. Bai Xu sucked in a breath but was secretly grateful that she was wearing flat shoes today.

If it had been the high heels from earlier, that kick would have left him hurting for quite a while longer. She hadn’t gone easy on him at noon either—his foot still ached from where she’d stepped on him.

Lin Xi really never went easy on him.

Whenever she raised her hand, it was always with full force.

"We’re just talking. There’s no need for violence," Bai Xu protested.

"I must be out of my mind," Lin Xi muttered, clicking her tongue. "You only sent me away because you saw Third Brother hadn’t left yet. I can’t figure you out—what’s going on in that head of yours?"

"What exactly are you trying to do?"

What was the point of sending her off with Qin Yu? What did he hope would happen? At most, sharing a car ride would only give them a chance to chat—nothing more.

Surely Bai Xu didn’t believe that a single car ride would somehow bring her and Qin Yu closer?

"I was doing you both a favor," Bai Xu spread his hands helplessly. "You and Third Brother haven’t seen each other in days. I was giving you a chance to be alone together. Isn’t that good?"

"In fact, you should be thanking me."

Lin Xi was so exasperated, she felt a pain in her chest. "Thank you, my foot!"

(End of this chapter)